Mental Disorders in Children and Youths Aged 10 to 24 Years in the Southwest Region of Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Abstract

Background: Mental health issues pose a significant threat to public health, contributing substantially to global burden of disability. In Africa, the mental health of young individuals aged 10 to 24 is increasingly at risk due to a cumulative effect of various challenges that have adversely impacted their mental wellbeing, resulting in mental disorders. This study aims at assessing some mental disorders in children and youths aged 10 to 24 years in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional study over a period of 1 year involving participants aged 10 to 24 years in the Fako Division, Southwest Region of Cameroon. Consecutive sampling was used to select the participants. The data was managed using Microsoft Excel and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results : A total of 965 participants were enrolled with more than half of the participants (522, 54.1%) showing inadequate knowledge. The overall prevalence of mental health disorder was 68.8% (substance use disorder (30.1%), depression (29.0%), anxiety (23.9%), and suicidal thoughts (19.2%). A significant association was found between mental disorders and demographic factors (age, gender, and locality, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Majority of the participants had inadequate knowledge on mental disorders. The overall prevalence of mental health disorders was high with significant association with gender, communities and being internally displaced. There is a need for mass sensitization, peer support and expert care to reduce the prevalence and promote mental well-being.